The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-14
Van wyck, the "crazy Horse" Sem
ator from Nebraska.
Favorable Report on the Bill to
Abolish Customs Districts.
A Number of Districts Abolished /,
Maine.
Representative Reed Says the New
System, II Adopted, viii be
Injurious.
A Very Brilliant Presidential Recep-
ton Last Evening.
Especial to the Press.l

w UAcnAN0IONs Jan. 10.
Among the Senators whose terms expire
next March, and who are likely to have
trouble in securing reelection, is Charles
H. Van Wyck of Nebraska. Van Wyck is a
good deal of character" Nominally a
Republican, he has always been very un-
certain quantity and little reliance can be
put upon his vote in case Of emergency. He
has chiefly posed as the enemy of monop-
olies, and has consequently been accused
of demagogism. His attacks upon the
Washington gaslight companies and the
Washington street railway have generally
been on the right side. In personal appear
ance he is as peculiar as in his political
maneuvres. He is bow-legged, of medium
height, with smooth, sharp face, surmount-
ed by thick head of iron gray hair. His
vigor Of speech coupled with the general
eccentricity of his action. has caused the very
graphic nickname of "Crazy Horse" to be
applied to him. He is one of the wealthy
men of the Senate, being rated among its
millionaires, and owns and occupies an ele-
CANT residence on Massachusetts avenue, in
heart OF upper tendon. He bids fair to add
another to the already long list of those
who have built fine houses here only to lose
their offices almost as soon as they had
moved into them. He has served but one
term in the Senate, taking his seat in 1881.
The fact that the Democratic press of the
country generally favor his reelection, and
that majority of the votes that are counted
as sure for him in the Nebraska Legislature
are Democratic, is considered as significant
in view Of the extreme closeness Of the next
Senate, and his opponents win make the
most of this point against him. The Repub-
licans have majority of % on joint ballot in
the Nebraska Legislature and should be able
to elect Senator about whose Republican
ism there can be no question.
Notwithstanding the opposition to him in
the Legislature, at the State election when
opportunity was given to the people to ex-
press their choice of Senator, Van Wyck
received in round numbers 40, 900 votes out of
$4,000. But in spite of this expression in his
favor, the chances are at least equal against
his reelection.
Joseph Leighton has been commissioned
postmaster at Sheepscot Bridge, Me.
The Postmaster General has appointed
Miss lmogene Clark postmistress at Carre-
tunk, Me.
The House Committee ON ways and means
today ordered favorable report on the bill
to consolidate customs districts. Under the
provisions of this bill the following customs
districts are abolished: Belfast, Castine,
Frenchman's Bay, Kennebunk, Machias,
Saco, Waldoboro, Wiscasset and York, leav-
ing only the districts of Aroostook, Passa-
maquoddy, Bangor, Bath and Portland
Congressman Reed, in response to your cor
respondents inquiry as to the probable effect
OF the bill upon Maine interests, said: 81 do
not see how it can be otherwise than in
furious. The districts are abolished entirely
on the lground of pecuniary economy, be-
cause the receipts at these ports were less
than expenses. They do not take into con-
sideration at all the necessities and con-
venience of the people affected. 1t must
work great injury to Names coastwise
trade" Mr. Reed further said that he
doubted whether it would result In any
pecuniary saving even, as the Secretary of
the Treasury is authorized to establish sub
ports and appoint deputy collectors in Gus
toms districts when it may be found neces-
S"AJ Ava 0AiO PAVtOObOu VI iCNCuuC anu tDt
convenience of commerce. In his opinion
these deputies would be found to cost fully
as much as the collectors abolished. The
proposition giving the President the right to
abolish any district whenever the receipts
are not equal to the expenses, might work
disastrously, as owing to special causes a
temporary lull in business might cause the
receipts to fall below the expenses for
time, which would afterwards come up,
while there is no provision for re-establish-
ing an Office once abolished. 1t is not be-
lieyed that the bill can become law at this
session.
Hon. David Dudley of Presque Isle is
here.
A Respite.
The President has granted respite until
April 8, 1887, to Patrick McCarty, who was
to be executed January IA, at Fort Smith,
Arkansas.
Maine Patents.
The following patents were issued this
week to Maine inventors:
John e. Booth, Bangor, moccasin shoe
Elizabeth +. Morrow, Portland, bed pan.
A Presidential Reception.
The Presidents initial reception to the di-
plomatic corps was held tonight. The long
corridors and large, high rooms of the White
House were brilliantly lighted, while in
every niche were placed tropical plants of
all varieties.